A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America eBook

rather flat, on the back of which is the sucker, which
consists of a narrow oval-shaped margin with several
transverse projections, and ten curved rays extending
towards the centre, but not meeting. The Indians
of Jamaica and Cuba employed this fish as falconers
do hawks. In calm weather, they carried out those
which they had kept and fed for the purpose, in their
canoes, and when they had got to a sufficient distance,
attached the remora to the head of the canoe by a
strong line of considerable length. When the remora
perceives a fish, which he can do at a considerable
distance, he darts away with astonishing rapidity,
and fastens upon it. The Indian lets go the line,
to which a buoy is attached to mark the course the
remora has taken, and follows in his canoe until he
thinks the game is exhausted; he then draws it gradually
in, the remora still adhering to his prey. Oviedo
says, “I have known a turtle caught by this method,
of a bulk and weight which no single man could support.”

For four days we were anxiously watching for some
indications of a breeze, but were so frequently deceived
with “cat’s paws,” and the occasional
slight flickering of the dog vane, that we sank into
listless resignation. At length our canvass filled,
and we soon came within sight of the Straits of Gibraltar.
On our left was the coast of Spain, with its vineyards
and white villages; and on our right lay the sterile
hills of Barbary. Opposite Cape Trafalgar is
Cape Spartel, a bold promontory, on the west side
of which is a range of basaltic pillars. The entrance
to the Mediterranean by the Straits, when the wind
is unfavourable, is extremely difficult; but to pass
out is almost impossible, the current continually
setting in through the centre of the passage.
Hence, onwards, the sail was extremely pleasant, being
within sight of the Spanish coast, and the Islands
of Yvica, Majorca, and Minorca, successively, until
we reached the Gulf of Lyons. When the northerly
wind blows, which, in Provence, is termed the mistral,
the waves roll against the coast of Provence, and
the recoil produces that ugly chopping sea for which
this gulf is renowned. In the Mediterranean,
even in the calmest weather, a light pleasant breeze
springs up after sunset; this and the cloudless sky,
and unobscured brilliancy of the stars, are attractions
sufficient to allure the most somnolent and unromantic
mortal to remain on deck.

The molusca, or oceanic insect, which emits a phosphorescent
light, appeared here in vast quantities, which induced
me to try experiments. I took a piece of black
crape, and having folded it several times, poured
some sea water taken fresh in a bucket, upon it:
the water in the bucket, when agitated by the hand,
gave out sparkling light. When the crape was
thoroughly saturated with water, I took it to a dark
part of the cabin, when it seemed to be studded with
small sparkling stars; but more of the animals I could
not then discern. Next day I put some water in
a glass tumbler, and having exposed it to a strong
solar light, with the help of a magnifying glass was
enabled distinctly to discern the moluscae. When
magnified, they appeared about the size of a pin’s
head, of a yellowish brown colour, rather oval-shaped,
and having tentaculae. The medusa is a genus
of molusca; and I think M. le Seur told me he reckons
forty-three or forty-four species of that genus.